The Ordnance Dépôt at Tampa was located on Lafayette Street, at the end
of the bridge over the river, next to the Tampa Bay Hotel. The river
washed the sides of the building, which was occupied by the Tampa
Athletic Club, and had formerly been used as a club-house. There were
two stories and a basement. The basement was nearly on a level with the
river, the main floor on a level with the bridge, and there was also a
spacious upper floor. The main floor was used for storage of light
articles of ordnance; the basement for heavy articles and ammunition.
Hundreds of thousands of rounds of rifle and revolver ball cartridges,
thousands of rounds of Hotchkiss fixed ammunition, and many hundreds of
pounds of powder charges for field artillery and mortars were here
stored. Miscellaneous assortments were daily coming in, generally
without any mark on the box by which to learn what were the contents.
The name of the arsenal, if from an arsenal, was usually stamped on the
seal; generally there was no mark whatever to designate the origin or
contents of the many boxes which came from ordinary posts. The invoices
came from a week to ten days behind or in advance of the arrival of the
boxes, and there was not the slightest clue to be gained from them.
Consequently those who had to check up invoices and prepare for issues
were at their wits’ end to keep things straight. A requisition for so
many articles would come in, duly approved; unless the boxes containing
these articles happened to have been unpacked, it was uncertain whether
they were on hand or not. No wholesale merchant of any sense would ship
out boxes of goods without some indication of their contents; but that
was exactly what was done from all over the country to the Ordnance
Dépôt at Tampa.
The upper floor consisted of one large room. A rope railing was placed
around it to preserve clear space around the desks. There were several
of these for the ordnance officer and the various clerks. A chief
clerk, an assistant clerk, a stenographer, and two ordnance sergeants
looked after the red tape. An overseer with four subordinates and a
gang of negro stevedores attended to loading and unloading boxes,
storing them, counting out articles for issue or receipt, and such
other duties as they were called on to perform. There was an old
janitor named McGee, a veteran of the Civil War, whose business it was
to look after the sweeping and keep the floors clean.
Four guns in their original boxes were issued to the detachment on the
27th of May. They were new, and apparently had never been assembled. On
assembling them it was found that the parts had been constructed with
such “scientific” accuracy that the use of a mallet was necessary. The
binder-box on the pointing lever was so tight that in attempting to
depress the muzzle of the gun it was possible to lift the trail off the
ground before the binder-box would slide on the lever. The axis-pin had
to be driven in and out with an axe, using a block of wood, of course,
to prevent battering. A truly pretty state of affairs for a gun the
value of which depends on the ease with which it can be pointed in any
direction.
Inquiry after the war at the factory where the guns are made disclosed
the fact that these parts are rigidly tested by a gauge by the
Government inspectors, and that looseness is regarded as a fatal
defect. Even play of half a hundredth of an inch is enough to insure
the rejection of a piece. The very first thing done by the Gatling Gun
Detachment, upon assembling these guns, was to obtain a set of
armorers’ tools and to file away these parts by hand until the aim of
the piece could be changed by the touch of a feather. The detachment
was ordered to rely upon the friction clutches for steadiness of aim,
when necessary, and not upon the tight fit of the parts. It was ordered
that there must be no doubt whatever of easy, perfectly free
manipulation at any and all times, even if the pointing lever should
become rusted. This precaution proved on July 1st to have been of great
value.
Baiquiri.
The instruction of the detachment began immediately, and consisted, at
first, of unpacking, mounting, dismounting, and repacking the guns. The
four guns were mounted and a drill held each time in the loading and
firing of the piece. This system of instruction was continued until the
detachment was ordered on board ship on the 6th of June. During this
instruction members of the detachment were designated by name to fall
out, and the remainder of the detachment required to execute all the
maneuvers of the piece as before. In fact, this instruction was carried
to such a point that one man alone was required to load, aim, and fire
the gun at designated objects without any assistance.
The detachment at once assumed the position of an independent command.
It reported directly to Maj.-Gen. W. R. Shafter, commanding the 5th
Corps, in everything so far as its duties with Gatling guns were
concerned, was regarded as an independent command, kept its own records
in the same manner as a company, obtained cooking utensils from the
quartermaster and ran its own mess, and furnished its own guard. This
status, that of a separate command, continued until the detachment was
finally disbanded at Montauk.
On the 27th of May the detachment commander was summoned to Gen.
Wheeler’s headquarters and there requested to explain to the general in
person his plans for organizing a Gatling gun detachment. Gen. Wheeler
had just assumed command of all the Cavalry belonging to the 5th Army
Corps. His headquarters, instead of being in a suite of rooms in the
palatial Tampa Bay Hotel, where all the other general officers had
their headquarters, were located about half a mile from the hotel in a
treeless pasture. The cavalry guidon floating from a lance-head was the
only indication of headquarters, and the half-dozen “A” tents in an
irregular line gave no sign that one of the most distinguished generals
in the world had here his headquarters in the field.
The general was easily accessible. The first thing that impressed one
of him was his extraordinary quickness. His eye seemed to take in
everything within sight of him at a single glance, and to read one’s
thoughts before the tongue could give expression to them. He grasped
ideas when they were only half uttered and immediately drew deductions
from mere statements of simple facts, the result of years of careful
study. These deductions, which Gen. Wheeler drew instantly, were in
every case correct, and showed a keener and more correct appreciation
of the proper tactical employment of machine guns than was shown by any
other officer of the 5th Corps. The result of the interview with the
general was that a scheme for the organization of a tactical unit to be
composed of three Gatling guns and to be employed with the cavalry
division, was drawn up on the spot, under Gen. Wheeler’s personal
direction, and was submitted by him to Gen. Shafter, with the request
that authority be granted for the organization of this command for the
purpose indicated.
In the application Gen. Wheeler stated that he believed that such a
battery of machine guns, if properly handled, could go anywhere that
cavalry could go, could take the place of infantry supports, could dash
up and hold any ground or advantageous position that a body of cavalry
might seize, could be thrown out to one flank of the enemy and assist
in his demoralization in preparation for the cavalry charge, and would
be of particular service in case the enemy attempted to form infantry
squares, which were at that time supposed to be the main part of the
Spanish tactics of battle. This application was disapproved.
On the 30th of May, Gen. Lee sent for the detachment commander for an
interview on the subject of Gatling guns. Gen. Lee was at this time
quartered at the Tampa Bay Hotel, and was engaged in the organization
of the 7th Army Corps. It was supposed that the 7th Corps was designed
for the Havana campaign, and it was believed that the attack upon
Havana would begin at a very early date. The result of the interview
with Gen. Lee was that he directed a scheme for the organization of a
tactical unit to be composed of 9 guns, 3 batteries of 3 guns each, to
be prepared for service with the 7th Army Corps.
It was desired that this organization be a volunteer organization, and
the application was therefore made for authority from the President,
under that law of Congress authorizing the employment of special
troops. Col. Guild, well and favorably known from his connection with
the Massachusetts National Guard, was prepared to furnish a volunteer
organization already in existence, well drilled and already officered,
composed of the flower of the youth of Massachusetts, very largely of
college graduates, who had already been communicated with on the
subject, and who were even at that time expecting momentarily a
telegram calling them to this duty. Nothing resulted from this effort.
Meantime the drill instruction of the little detachment continued. Its
members had acquired a considerable degree of proficiency in the
mechanical handling of their guns, and were beginning to appreciate the
destructive possibilities of their weapon. They were enjoying a degree
of liberty which they had not found in their regimental camp, because
when not on duty they were free to come and go at will, when and where
they pleased. The hours for instruction were designated in the morning
and in the cool of the afternoon, leaving the middle of the day and the
evening for the men’s own recreation. The result of this system of
treatment was that _esprit-du-corps_ began to be developed in the
detachment. They began to feel that they were a special organization,
expected to do special work, and that they were receiving very special
treatment. They began to be proud of being members of the Gatling Gun
Detachment, to take greater interest in the work, and when on the first
of June they received their monthly pay not a single member of the
detachment committed any excesses in consequence of this unusual degree
of freedom. No one was intoxicated. No one was absent without
permission.
The detachment had not been at the Ordnance Depot very long before an
opportunity occurred for some of its members to exhibit those qualities
which made the success of the battery so conspicuous on the
battle-field afterward. The detachment commander had been detailed by
verbal orders on the first of June in charge of the issues of ordnance
property to the Santiago expedition. This was in addition to his duties
with the Gatling guns. The work would commence about 6 o’clock in the
morning, and from that time until dark there was a continual stream of
wagons carrying away stores such as rifles, haversacks, meat ration
cans, tin cups, and all the articles needed by troops in the field
during a campaign. The ammunition which was issued to the troops at
this time was drawn at the same place.
When wagons arrived to receive issues, stevedores were directed to
count out the different articles under the direction of an overseer,
and these piles of articles were verified by the officer in charge of
the issues. The stevedores then loaded them on the wagons which were to
haul them to the different camps. Receipts in duplicate were always
taken and invoices in duplicate were always given, in the name, of
course, of Lieut. John T. Thompson, who was responsible for the stores.
On the 4th of June issues were being made of rifle-ball cartridges.
These cartridges came packed in boxes of 1000 rounds each, and each box
weighed 78 pounds. A great quantity of it was stored in the basement,
where there was also a considerable quantity of fixed Hotchkiss
ammunition, as well as several thousand rounds of powder charges in
boxes. The Hotchkiss ammunition, which comes with projectile and powder
both set in a brass case, is bad ammunition to pack; for, no matter how
carefully it is handled, there is almost always some leakage of powder
from the cartridge case, thus causing a certain amount of loose powder
to sift into the box in which it is packed.
About half past 11 o’clock on this morning a negro stevedore
accidentally dropped a box of rifle ammunition near a pile of Hotchkiss
fixed, and the next instant the laborers saw smoke ascending toward the
ceiling of the basement. They yelled “Fire! fire!” at the top of their
voices, and everybody in the basement at once made a rush for the two
doors. It was a panic. The danger was imminent. The smoke curled up to
the ceiling and then curled down again, and the excited, panic-stricken
faces of the negroes as they rushed through the door made an awful
picture of human terror. People on the outside of the building began to
shout “Fire!”
At this juncture McGee, the old janitor, who had just reached the door,
cried out, “Lieutenant, there is a box in here on fire!” speaking to
Lieut. Parker, who was verifying issues just outside the door. The
lieutenant replied, “Let’s throw it into the river,” and dashed toward
the box through the door, pushing the excited negroes to each side in
order to assist McGee, who had instantly started for the box. When
Lieut. Parker reached the box, he found that McGee had already taken it
up, and was staggering under its weight. He placed one arm around
McGee’s shoulder and with the other assisted him to support the box,
from which the smoke was still ascending, and the two rushed for the
door, throwing the whole momentum of their weight and speed against the
crowd of frightened negroes, who were falling over each other in their
panic-stricken efforts to escape. Priv. Greenberg, of the 13th
Infantry, a member of the Gatling Gun Detachment, who was the sentinel
on post at the time, saw the two men coming with the box, and with
great presence of mind added his own weight with a rapid rush to the
shock they had produced, thus enabling them to break their way through
the dense throng at the door. It was only the work of an instant to
then throw the box in the river, where it sank in the water and for a
moment the blue smoke continued to bubble up from the box, which lay
clearly visible on the bed of the river, the water being only about two
feet deep at this point, which was, however, enough to entirely cover
the box and thus extinguish the fire. At the outcry of “Fire!” Lieut.
H. L. Kinnison, of the 25th Infantry, who was waiting outside of the
basement with a wagon, started in at the other door, and Serg.
Weischaar, acting first sergeant of the Gatling Gun Detachment, started
for water. Just as the two men emerged from the door carrying the box,
Lieut. Kinnison reached the spot where the fire had originated, and
Serg. Weischaar appeared with two buckets of water. He and Lieut.
Kinnison at once flooded the floor, seized a woolen cloth which
happened to be near, and wetted down the boxes of Hotchkiss ammunition
as a measure of precaution.
The “Hornet.”
McGee, the hero of this episode, is an old veteran of the Civil War,
having served three years in the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during
the war, and five years in the Regular Army after the war. He has never
drawn a pension nor applied for one, although he suffers considerably
from disease and wounds contracted and received during the war, and
certainly should be rewarded by a grateful government for his
conspicuous heroism. The explosion of this magazine would have brought
the whole expedition to a standstill, besides inflicting tremendous
destruction of property and frightful loss of life.
The same day the Artillery of the army began to draw its material for
the campaign, and for a period of thirty-nine hours there was no rest
for anybody connected with the issue of ordnance stores. It was at this
time that the lack of intelligent marking and packing of the boxes was
keenly felt. The greatest difficulty was experienced in selecting, from
the mass of stores in the depot, the stores that were required by the
Artillery. It was especially difficult during the work by night, when
the only light that could possibly be allowed was a single lantern, on
account of the danger of fire.
At the close of this thirty-nine hours of arduous duty, the officer in
command of the Gatling Gun Detachment learned that orders had been
issued for the embarkation of the 5th Army Corps at Port Tampa, and
that no reference had been made to the Gatling Gun Detachment in these
orders. He at once sought Lieut. Thompson, who could offer no light on
the omission, but said, “I have orders to send at once to the
_Cherokee_ 521,000 rounds of rifle-ball cartridges and all the revolver
ammunition on hand. This is the reserve ammunition of the 5th Army
Corps. I will send you in charge of this ammunition and you will see it
to its destination. You may take an escort or not, as you please. The
ammunition is to go on the 4 o’clock train and you must make all the
arrangements in regard to it. Get box-cars, haul the ammunition over
there and put it in the cars, see that it goes on that train, and as
soon as it arrives at Port Tampa, see that it is properly put on board
the _Cherokee_.”
In order to fully understand the situation of the Gatling Gun
Detachment at this juncture, the following correspondence on the
subject is necessary:
“Office of Ordnance Officer, “Lafayette Street, West of Bridge, “Tampa,
Fla., June 3, 1898.
“_The Assistant Adjutant-General, 5th Army Corps, Tampa, Florida:_
“Sir,—Replying to your letter of June 1,1898, in reference to Gatling
Gun Detachment, I have the honor to submit the following report:
Guns, men, and equipment required for a 4-gun detachment:
Guns. Serg. Corp. Priv. Total required: 4 5 4 28 On
hand: 4 2 0 10 Required: 3
4 18
The gun crews thus organized will give most effective service for the
detachment.
Ammunition: Each limber carries 9,840 rounds cal. .30. Four limbers,
27,360; necessary reserve, 32,640; total, 60,000.
Tentage: Two conical wall-tents for enlisted men; one ‘A’ wall-tent for
officer.
Camp equipage, in addition to that on hand in Gatling Gun Detachment:
one buzzacot, small; four mess-pans, one dish-pan, one coffee-mill.
Blanket-roll complete; revolver with 50 rounds per man; waist-belts and
entrenching-knives.
“It is recommended that Priv. Butz, ‘G’ Co., 13th Infantry, Corp.
Robert S. Smith, ‘C’ Co., 13th Infantry, and Serg. Weigle, 9th
Infantry, be members of the detachment; and that detachment be taken
from 9th Infantry, which has some well-instructed men.
“It is further recommended that the detachment be fully horsed as soon
as practicable, and that the whole be placed under the command of
Lieut. John H. Parker, 13th Infantry, as acting captain.
“I recommend that I be authorized to issue the 4 Gatling guns and parts
to him.
“The details should carry the rations prescribed in General Orders 5th,
May 31, 1898, 5th Army Corps. Very respectfully,
(Signed) “_Jno. T. Thompson_, “1st Lieut., Ord. Dept, U. S. A.”
This letter, prepared by Lieut. Parker and signed by Lieut. Thompson,
was endorsed as follows:
_First Endorsement._
“Headquarters 5th Army Corps, “Tampa, Fla., June 5, 1898.
“Respectfully returned to Lieut. J. T. Thompson, Ordnance Officer.
“If Lieut. Parker, in charge of the detachment as at present
constituted, can make the arrangements suggested within, he may take
action; but, in view of the limited time remaining, it is thought the
detachment already organized will answer.
“By command of Maj.-Gen. Shafter.
“_E. J. McClernand_, “Assistant Adjutant-General.”
_Second Endorsement._
“Office of the Ordnance Officer, “Lafayette Street Bridge, “Tampa,
Fla., June 5, 1898.
“Respectfully referred to Lieut. John H. Parker for his information.
“_Jno. T. Thompson_, “1st Lieut., Ordnance Dept, U. S. A.”
Waiting.
It will be seen from the first endorsement that a certain amount of
discretion was left to the detachment commander. He was authorized to
take action if he could make the arrangements suggested within. Lieut.
Thompson had authorized an escort for the reserve ammunition, if it was
considered necessary. The detachment commander resolved to take action
by using his whole detachment as an escort, putting it on board the
_Cherokee_, with the reserve ammunition, and accompanying it to its
destination—in Cuba, trusting to the future to enable him to complete
the detachment according to the first endorsement.
It was now 11 o’clock in the forenoon. Between that time and 4 o’clock
it was necessary to obtain two freight cars, have them placed upon the
siding at a convenient point, have more than twenty wagon-loads of
ammunition, camp equipage, etc., placed in these cars, have the four
guns with their limbers placed on board, and, more difficult than all
the rest, go through the necessary red tape at the quartermaster’s
office in order to get the two cars moved to Port Tampa. It was all
accomplished.
The general freight agent was bluffed into believing that unless the
two cars were instantly set where they were wanted his whole railroad
would be tied up. The quartermaster was hypnotized and dropped
formality, putting all the clerks to work upon papers and making out
the necessary bill of lading, invoices, etc., in time to catch the 4
o’clock train. He also issued the necessary transportation for the
officer and men of the detachment from Tampa to Port Tampa, accepting
the first endorsement above as sufficient orders for that purpose.
One member of the detachment, Priv. Murray, had been very ill with what
we afterward learned to call the Cuban fever, and, while apparently
convalescent, was entirely too weak to accompany the detachment. He was
a splendid fellow, and the tears rolled down his emaciated face when he
was told he must remain behind. He was furnished with a descriptive
list and a letter was written to the chief surgeon of the Division
Hospital, requesting him to send an ambulance immediately for the sick
man. One member of the detachment carried this letter to Tampa Heights,
and so sharp was the work of getting away that this man had to board a
moving train as it was pulling out to keep from getting left; but Priv.
Murray was taken to the hospital and cared for, and Priv. Bremer did
not get left.
The detachment reached Port Tampa about sundown, and Maj. Cushing, who
had charge of the loading of the transports, at once authorized the
cars to be set alongside the _Cherokee_. The ammunition, guns, camp
equipage, men, and all were promptly put aboard. The training in
packing and unpacking the guns was the only thing which enabled the
work to be done in the limited time allotted. Not so much as a
ten-penny nail belonging to the detachment was left behind.
During the night the troops that were to occupy the _Cherokee_ came on
board, and it was found the next morning that five or six tons of
regimental baggage had been piled on top of the guns, making it
practically impossible to disembark, even if such a movement should be
ordered.
Wrecked Locomotives and Machine Shops at Baiquiri.